1). Read both of Poe's poems,Sonnet to Science & Romance
2). Read the articlePoe's Quintessential Romantic(see Weekly Reading Modules)
3).
Formulate a thesis, for examples:
Remember, in Day 1, I introduced the concept of constucting a thesis.
Examples of theses:
"Four stages of life is represented in Poe's tale,The Bells".
"Romantics value creativity and youth but hate science, old age and adult life.
"There is life on Mars".
"The narrator in Poe's tale theBlack Catis mentally ill".
"Roderick is Depressed".
"Etc".
Think about it this way:
When you want to formulate a thesis attempt to pose aquestion first.
Example of a Question:
“What is Romanceaccording to the Romantic Tradition in the poems,Romance and Sonnet to Science?"
Answer in the form of a
thesis:
"Romantics love nature, leisure and youth"
Then use the poems & the article,Poe’s Quintessential Romanticto prove your thesis right.
4). Prove your thesis in the ensuing 3 paragraphs by presenting evidence from yourprimary source(Poe) AND after presenting evidence fromsecondary source(s)(Quintessential Romantic article)
a). The essay should be exactly 4 paragraphs.
b).In paragraphs 2,3,4 when presenting evidence from yourprimary and secondary sourcethe paragraph should read like this:
Topic Sentencereminds the reader of the thesis topic and contains a sub-topic that you prove in the rest of the paragraph.
Example of aTopic Sentence:
- Romantics love nature because it’s a place to learn.
c).
Introduce the quote
by telling the reader what the quote stays in your own words.
d).
Present the quote
from primary source. For example:
- "Among the green leaves as they shake / Far down within some shadowy lake / To me a painted paroquet / Hath been--a most familiar bird— / Taught me my alphabet to say— / To lisp my very earliest word / While in the wild wood I did lie / A child—a most knowing eye". (Poe, Lines 3-10).
e).Comment upon the quotewith a list examples. For example:
Re-read the quoteandfind 3 examples relevant to yourthesis (topic)
AND (sub-topic)
AND
throw it back to the reader.
f). Now incorporate secondary source(s) to eithersupport or counter argue
your topic sentence's discussion. For examples:
Support– “James Taylor in his essay (title of essay) agrees that the narrator is mentally ill”.
Counter argument– “Erika Johnson in her review (title of review) argues that (tell us what she argues in 2 short sentences); however, what she fails to take into consideration is…”